Hat with attachable and interchangeable hairpiece

ABSTRACT

A hat with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece may be of any style and has one or more attachment points to which a hairpiece may be removably affixed. Hairpieces in various colors, lengths and styles may be provided, such that the user may interchange the styles with the hat to achieve varying looks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/875,318, filed Sep. 9, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to hairpieces and related accessoriesand in particular to a hat with an attachable and interchangeablehairpiece. Many individuals are suffering from medical conditions suchas alopecia, or taking medical treatments such as chemotherapy andradiation therapy as a result of cancer, which cause substantial hairloss. Other users experience hair loss and thinning due to the agingprocess or may simply want to change their hairstyle temporarily.Particularly in the case of cancer patients, these individuals have nochoice in the changes their bodies will go through, even to save theirown lives. Loss of the ability to maintain their usual appearance andstyle lowers self-esteem and causes emotional depression, which onlyadds to the difficulties already faced by these individuals. A realisticsystem for restoring the appearance of these individuals would be wellreceived. A hat with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece wouldhelp to resolve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a hat with an attachable andinterchangeable hairpiece. The hat may be of any style and has one ormore attachment points to which a hairpiece may be removably affixed.Hairpieces in various colors, lengths and styles may be provided, suchthat the user may interchange the styles with the hat to achieve varyinglooks.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitutea part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of the hairpiece component of the firstexemplary embodiment, displaying the hairpiece 10, and the maleattachment points 11.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the hat component of the firstexemplary embodiment, displaying the hat 12, and the female attachmentpoints 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directedto a hat 12 with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece 10. The hat12 may be of any style and has one or more female attachment points 13to which a hairpiece 10 may be removably affixed. Hairpieces 10 invarious colors, lengths and styles may be provided, such that the usermay interchange the styles with the hat 12 to achieve varying looks. Thehair styles contemplated include braided, curled, straight, or in aponytail. Short and long length hair of varying hues is alsocontemplated.

The first exemplary embodiment consists of two or more components: thehat component, and one or a plurality of hairpiece components. The hat12 may be of any style that is adequate to conceal the female attachmentpoints 13. The female attachment points 13 are preferably arranged inpairs, in a symmetrical horizontal row around the widest circumferenceof the user's head, covering at least the occipital and temporal areasof the user's head. The male attachment points 11 are provided incorresponding locations on the hairpiece 10 for a smooth and naturaltransition along the edge between the hairpiece 10 and the hat 12. Thefemale attachment points 13, and the corresponding male attachmentpoints on the hairpiece 10, may be hook-and-loop fabric strips, metal orplastic snaps, or any other similar fastening device.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user selects a hairpiece 10,and uses the male attachment points 11 to affix the hairpiece 10 to thehat 12, at the female attachment points 13. The user then puts on thehat 12, adjusting both the hat 12 and hairpiece 10 as desired for aperfect fit and a natural appearance.

The hairpiece 10 is preferably manufactured from flexible, durablematerials that closely simulate the user's natural human hair, such ashuman hair or acrylic fibers. The male attachment points 11 and femaleattachment points 13 are preferably manufactured from durable materialssuch as steel, aluminum, plastic, and nylon. Components, componentsizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans willrecognize that alternate components and materials could be selectedwithout altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understandand appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, andequivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. Theinvention should, therefore, not be limited by the above describedembodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methodswithin the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A system of a hat and hairpiece comprising: (a) a hatcomponent; (b) at least one hairpiece component; (c) a plurality offemale attachment points; (d) said plurality of female attachment pointsbeing affixed to said hat component and positioned on the insidecircumference of said hat component; (e) a plurality of male attachmentpoints; (f) said plurality of male attachment points being affixed tosaid at least one hairpiece component; (g) said plurality of maleattachment points being positioned on said hairpiece component tocorrespond to said plurality of female attachment points; (h) saidplurality of male attachment points and said female attachment pointsbeing equal in number; and (i) said plurality of male attachment pointsand said plurality of female attachment points being configured so as tobe mutually releasably attachable.
 2. The system of a hat and hairpieceof claim 1 wherein said at least one hairpiece component is provided ina variety of colors lengths and styles such that said at least onehairpiece component may be mixed and matched with said hat component. 3.The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein at least one ofsaid at least one hairpiece component is of a style selected from thegroup of braided, curled, straight, and ponytail.
 4. The system of a hatand hairpiece of claim 2 wherein at least one of said at least onehairpiece component is of a style selected from the group of braided,curled, straight, and ponytail.
 5. The system of a hat and hairpiece ofclaim 1 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and saidplurality of female attachment points are both arranged in pairs and ina symmetrical horizontal row about the widest inner circumference ofsaid hat component.
 6. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 2wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality offemale attachment points are both arranged in pairs and in a symmetricalhorizontal row about the widest inner circumference of said hatcomponent.
 7. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 3 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are both arranged in pairs and in a symmetricalhorizontal row about the widest inner circumference of said hatcomponent.
 8. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 4 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are both arranged in pairs and in a symmetricalhorizontal row about the widest inner circumference of said hatcomponent.
 9. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.
 10. Thesystem of hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein said plurality of maleattachment points and said plurality of female attachment points aresnaps.
 11. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 2 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.
 12. Thesystem of hat and hairpiece of claim 2 wherein said plurality of maleattachment points and said plurality of female attachment points aresnaps.
 13. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 3 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.
 14. Thesystem of hat and hairpiece of claim 3 wherein said plurality of maleattachment points and said plurality of female attachment points aresnaps.
 15. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 5 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.
 16. Thesystem of hat and hairpiece of claim 5 wherein said plurality of maleattachment points and said plurality of female attachment points aresnaps.
 17. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 7 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.
 18. Thesystem of hat and hairpiece of claim 7 wherein said plurality of maleattachment points and said plurality of female attachment points aresnaps.
 19. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 8 wherein saidplurality of male attachment points and said plurality of femaleattachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.
 20. Thesystem of hat and hairpiece of claim 8 wherein said plurality of maleattachment points and said plurality of female attachment points aresnaps.